Patrick Hennessy writes about politics for the Telegraph.

David Cameron should harness talents of David Davis and others

David Davis's "triumphant" return to parliament on Monday after the Haltemprice and Howden by-election will mean that David Cameron has three of his party's most impressive political operators outside his shadow cabinet – an uneasy position for a leader to be in.

The former shadow home secretary will join Iain Duncan Smith, the former Tory leader, and John Redwood, the ex-Welsh secretary, on the backbenches. All remain in their political prime (Davis is 59, Redwood 57 and IDS 54) and are among their party's most experienced figures – as well as among the most difficult to deal with. In their different ways, all appeal to the Tory Right – a constituency with which Cameron still maintains a rather uneasy relationship.

When he became leader, Cameron astutely appointed both IDS and Redwood to head policy commissions (on social justice and deregulation respectively). However, these commissions have now reported and moves to hand Davis a similar role in the field of civil liberties look set to be strangled at birth.

Many Tories think Cameron should use his upcoming "bucket and spade" family holiday in Cornwall to think hard about how the troika's talents can best be harnessed in what is likely to be a long, slow run-up to the next general election. If he does not, he might regret it.